TechCrunch Startup News Upwind raises $250M at $1.5B valuation to continue building ‘runtime’ cloud security; plus, AI security startup Outtake raises $40M
Jan 30, 2026
A startup raised $250M at a $1.5B valuation to build runtime cloud security solutions. A separate AI security company secured $40M to automate identity fraud detection and takedowns. Big-name investors and enterprise customers back these fast-growing cybersecurity and energy-storage plays.
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Battery Recycling Becomes Energy Infrastructure
- Redwood Materials is expanding from recycling into cathode production and grid-scale energy storage to serve AI data centers and industry.
- Investors like Google and NVIDIA are backing this pivot because energy storage is now essential infrastructure for surging electricity demand.
Founder's Palantir Roots Spark Investor Interest
- Outtake, founded by former Palantir engineer Alex Dillon, automates detection and takedown of identity fraud with agentic cybersecurity.
- Iconic's Murali Joshi described initial skepticism that turned into belief after due diligence and customer validation.
Star-Studded Investor Roster
- Outtake's $40M Series B was led by Iconic's Murali Joshi and attracted high-profile angels like Satya Nadella and Nikesh Arora.
- Alex Dillon's Palantir connections enabled introductions that led to prominent backers joining the round.